I put this charge before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you, in order that with such encouragement you may fight the good fight.

In fact this is why we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.

But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own, has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day.

I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate,

But they will not go much further, for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone, just like it was with Jannes and Jambres.

I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets,

You made him lower than the angels for a little while. You crowned him with glory and honor.

Again he says, “I will be confident in him,” and again, “Here I am, with the children God has given me.”

Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We have such a high priest, one who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice.

By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped as he leaned on his staff.

(the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth.

For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.

Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and there was no rain on the land for three years and six months!

Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

For it says in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.”

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you.

They are illustrations of this true proverb: “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and “A sow, after washing herself, wallows in the mire.”